Special Features

NPR Music brings you another great concert from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Pianists Cyrus Chestnut, Kris Davis, Lynne Arriale and The "Master" Harold Mabern take the stage to perform their favorite holiday songs on Christmas Day 12/25 from 1pm-2pm. Hosted by Felix Contreras.

Listeners tune to NPR for holiday stories of all kinds; funny, touching, insightful, and surprising. Hear the latest version of evergreen delights while driving to the mall, entertaining friends, or relaxing in front of a crackling fire. Hosted by Lynn Neary.

This July 4, America's national Independence Day celebration broadcasts live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning TV personality Tom Bergeron and NPR's Korva Coleman, the event features performances from some of America's best known celebrities and musical artists.

The Capitol Steps will address timely issues set to show tunes! There’s John Kerry singing “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Crimea?” and Hillary Clinton admonishing Joe Biden to “Let it Go” when it comes to running for President. It’s a show so clogged with jokes that Chris Christie threatened to shut it down!

Sub-zero temperatures and frigid wind chills have once again forced many schools to close throughout the region. The record cold temperatures may cause many in the WEMU listening area to develop cold-weather injuries like frostbite and hypothermia.

For road conditions and frequent weather updates, stay tuned to 89.1 WEMU for the latest developments.

Governor Rick Snyder issued his 2014 State of the State Address Thursday, January 17, 2014 and 89.1 WEMU carried it live as a partnership with Michigan Public Radio Network. This is their coverage of the event and the Democratic response.

The documentary explores the rich history of the longest-running live performance radio show on public radio. Featuring interviews with the show's founders, band members and guest artists (including Tim O'Brien, Kathy Mattea, Jason Isbell, Billy Bragg, Bela Fleck and more), WV Public Broadcasting's Dave Mistich retraces the earliest steps of the show in 1983 all the way to the 30th anniversary in 2013. In addition, this hour-long special also attempts to identify the multifaceted identity of the program and explores its reach and meaning to listeners all across the world.

This month on 89.1 WEMU's First Friday Focus on the Environment, we we will explore a growing threat in the region - Asian Carp. We look into its growing threat of expanding territories to the world's greatest freshwater resource, the Great Lakes.

The Executive Director of the Great Lakes Commission, Tim Eder joins us to talk about the issue and what can be done to establish a long-term solution.

50 years ago, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated during a visit to Dallas. WEMU's Bob Eccles has a look at JFK's impact on our area, and introduces us to some local folks whose lives President Kennedy touched. The spot where Kennedy spoke, planting the seed for what would become the Peace Corps.

On the first Friday of every month, WEMU Morning Edition Host David Fair partners with Michigan League of Conservation voters Executive Director Lisa Wozniak. Together they invite a guest to spend 20-minutes discuss a topic of environmental importance.

This month, our guest is Dan Scripps. Dan is a former State Representative and current President of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council. Today's conversation centers on progress that has been made in both energy efficiency and renewable energy usage in the state, where we are going next, and how we'll get there.

Michigan's Energy Future: That's the topic on WEMU's First Friday Focus on the Environment.

Senator Debbie Stabenow joins David Fair and Lisa Wozniak as our guest on the 1st Friday Focus on the Environment on WEMU 89.1 FM. Our topic? The Farm Bill, stalled in the House even before the government shut down.

The massive pile of black refinery waste that has sat alongside the banks of the Detoit River is gone. The 'Pet Coke' , as it's called, is the waste that's left after heave tar-sands oil is refine. It is not considered hazardous, but it does violate portions of the Clean Air act when it becomes airborne.

Throughout Detroit and Windsor, the airborne residue can be found throughout nearby neighborhoods.

Listen in as we focus on the effects of exposure of Pet Coke and the regulations to protect the health of the environment:

The annual Ypsilanti Heritage Festival kicks-off on Friday and the celebration will run through the weekend. It's a perfect time to take a look back at some of the elements that have helped create the identity of this Washtenaw County community.

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WEMU's Wendy Wright delves into the rich history and heritage of the City of Ypsilanti. In this 11-minute audio feature, Wendy provides some historical snapshots of people and places that helped forge the identity on Michigan's 2nd oldest city.

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival marks its 30th Anniversary this year. The annual celebration of music and entertainment is now in its final week for 2013. As this year's event winds down, we thought it a good time to look at the past, present and future of the festival. As WEMU's Wendy Wright discovered, the common thread has been, and will continue to be, a sense of community.

The holidays are upon us, and most of us are making plans to celebrate with family and friends. For those afflicted with illness it can be difficult to tap in to the sentiment of the season. However, at the University of Michigan Hospitals, there is a concerted effort to give the patients some holiday spirit. With music as a centerpiece, many patients are not only smiling, but they're also healing.

Wendy Wright reports on the sounds of holiday cheer ringing throughout in halls the Uof M Health system.

Ellen Rowe, jazz pianist and composer, the current Chair of the Department of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation along with flugelhornist, Music School Professor, and program founder Ed Sarath sit down with Linda Yohn of WEMU to talk about 25 years and beyond of the Jazz and Contemplative Studies Programs at the University of Michigan.